UConn-Kentucky in early 2009-10

The UConn men will play Kentucky Dec 9 at MadisonSquareGarden in New York as part of the third annual SEC/Big East Invitational.

The two-night event begins with a doubleheader Dec. 9 at MadisonSquareGarden. Georgia plays St. John's on ESPN2, followed by Kentucky-UConn on ESPN. On Dec. 10 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Fla., DePaul plays MississippiState on ESPN2, followed by Syracuse-Florida on ESPN. Game times for the four matchups have yet to be announce.

"We are excited to be a part of this and to have the opportunity to play a program like Kentucky," UConn coach Jim Calhoun said in a statement. "We always try to schedule against the best and think this is a continuation of that tradition for us. In addition, it is always exciting for our team and our fans to play in MadisonSquareGarden, an arena that has been the site of so many successes for us over the years."

UConn also will participate in the preseason NIT, a field that includes Duke, ArizonaState and LSU.